How the gravel Calculator works
Aggregate is calculated by volume, then converted to weight because quarries sell by the ton. Typical densities run about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for gravel, 1.5 for crushed stone, 1.35 for sand, and 1.1 for topsoil, with moisture nudging those figures up.
Tons = L × W × depth(in)/12 ÷ 27 × density
Example: a 20 by 10 foot driveway section at 4 inches deep is 2.47 cubic yards, about 3.5 tons of gravel. A tandem dump truck delivers that in one trip.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Plan on 8 to 12 inches total, built in layers: larger #3 stone at the base, then a middle layer, then crusher run or #57 on top, compacted between layers.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
About 80 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 60 square feet at 4 inches. Coverage varies with stone size and compaction.
Yards or tons, which should I order in?
Quote the tons this calculator gives, since scales at the quarry measure weight. Yards are only the middle step in the math.